Should the saying "every Marine a rifleman" be changed?

I will answer your question with a question. I'm the driver of the AAV you just got out of. You get pinned down. You want me to grab my rifle out of the rack next to my leg and come help you or get on the horn and call you some professional grunt backup?

In 1999, I was told that "Every Marine is a basic rifleman" - the word basic to me is what sets a line from the Rifleman MOS and a Marine who has qualified and is capable of handling a weapon. Suffice to say that since USMC Marksmanship standards for all members are 2nd to no other branch - the statement holds true for me..provided we're still shooting out to 500 yds for qualification on the KD course of fire. As a Combat Arms (but still non-Infantry) MOS, I always worked hard at my shooting skills (and was 2x Rilfe/Pistol Expert) in the hopes that I'd never have to engage, but wanted to be absolutely sure I could put rounds on target, if needed. As long as that same spirit of excellence prevails in our beloved Corps, the rest is semantics for this old salty Devil Dog. Semper Fi, Leathernecks!

Everyone is a rifleman if the situation calls for it, whatever your branch of service.

I’m not a marine, but I think I would take some comfort in knowing the guy next to me knew how to shoot if I was getting shot at. I would say in that case, “Well, he’s a rifleman today.”

You are wrong; every Marine is a rifleman. Every Marine is not, however, an infantryman. Knowing the difference between the two is a sign of maturity in the Corps.

No, why must every tradition be changed ?

Take this into consideration:

I'm an ARNG 31A. I've had a few Soldiers every year that require remedial training on their assigned weapon systems in order to qualify. Even on the AD side, I've gotten reports of plenty of the same in other Combat Support and Service Support branches.

I've never met a Marine, current or currently serving in the Army or ARNG, that needed any form of remedial training or didn't score well when qualifying. I could even say I'm jealous that "every Marine [is] a rifleman," because I cannot be as confident in my Service Support elements as you can be in every Marine you serve with. As stated previously, "not all riflemen are equal," but to say that the slogan "every Marine a riflemen" should be removed is both patently incorrect and insulting yourselves.

The phrase speaks to an ethos that is both unique to the Corps, and vital to it. Only by setting the standard that every Marine is a rifleman, and enforcing it, can a small force like the Marine Corps do the job it does with efficiency and effectiveness.

We should keep everything the same. Stupid to change it .

You’re an idiot. Even as a winger I had to be proficient with my weapon. Don’t think that just because you are an 03 that there aren’t plenty of badass pog’s that have actively engaged the enemy.